Cur"tain (k?r"t?n; 48), n. [OE.
cortin, curtin,fr. OF. cortine,
curtine, F. courtine, LL. cortina, curtian
(in senses 1 and 2), also, small court, small inclosure
surrounded by walls, from cortis court. See
Court.]
1. A hanging screen intended to darken or
conceal, and admitting of being drawn back or up, and reclosed at
pleasure; esp., drapery of cloth or lace hanging round a bed or
at a window; in theaters, and like places, a movable screen for
concealing the stage.
2. (Fort.) That part of the
rampart and parapet which is between two bastions or two gates.
See Illustrations of Ravelin and
Bastion.
3. (Arch.) That part of a wall of
a building which is between two pavilions, towers, etc.
4. A flag; an ensign; -- in
contempt. [Obs.] Shak.
Behind the curtain, in concealment; in
secret. -- Curtain lecture, a
querulous lecture given by a wife to her husband within the bed
curtains, or in bed. Jerrold.
A curtain lecture is worth all the sermons
in the world for teaching the virtues of patience and long-
suffering.
W. Irving.
--
The curtain falls, the performance
closes. -- The curtain rises, the
performance begins. -- To draw the
curtain, to close it over an object, or to remove
it; hence: (a) To hide or to disclose an
object. (b) To commence or close a
performance. -- To drop the curtain,
to end the tale, or close the performance.
Cur"tain, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Curtained (-t?nd; 48); p. pr. & vb.
n. Curtaining.] To inclose as with
curtains; to furnish with curtains.
So when the sun in bed
Curtained with cloudy red.
Milton.
